Philadelphia on a budget
Description:
Luckily for those traveling on a budget, Philadelphia is a wonderful walking city with many interesting things to see and do that cost nothing or very little. While you will have to pay for lodging, this guide takes you to some of the best local eateries (like the Reading Terminal Market and Silk City) and some of Philadelphia's most picturesque outdoor locales, and it won't be hard on your wallet. You'll spend time in the beautiful and bustling Rittenhouse Square, wander through Fairmount Park to see Boathouse Row, and tour Philadelphia's historic district by foot.
Author: Abby
Day 1 - Philadelphia
After checking in to your hotel (an adorable bed and breakfast on Philadelphia's antique row), head over to Rittenhouse Square to do some people-watching. If you get bored of that, there are plenty of stores, cafes, and coffee shops around the square to browse through. For dinner, grab a bottle of wine or a few beers and head to El Azteca, a tasty little Mexican restaurant that will leave you full without damaging your wallet. For a true Philly dive-bar experience, check out Good Dog, where local bike messengers and hipsters spend many an hour.
1
Antique Row Bed & Breakfast
Location:
view in google maps341 S 12th St
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5907
Phone:
215-592-78022
Rittenhouse Square
Location:
view in google maps1801 Walnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone:
215 636 16663
El Azteca
Location:
view in google maps714 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3201
Phone:
215 733-08954
Good Dog
Location:
view in google maps224 South 15th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone:
215 985 9600Day 2 - Philadelphia
After breakfast, look into taking a mural tour with Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program. If a trolley tour isn't in your budget, try one of their self-guided walking mural tours. These tours take you to interesting neighborhoods of the city and give you a glimpse into one of Philadelphia's most important contributions to the national art scene. Grab some lunch at the Famous 4th Street Deli (you can get giant sandwiches to go if the weather's nice), and then wander around Independence National Historical Park. If Park admission isn't in your budget, you can certainly get a taste of Colonial Philadelphia simply by walking the streets of Society Hill. When you've had enough of colonial history, walk or bus your way up to Silk City, a popular upscale diner (but still on the cheap side) and music/dance venue. You'll probably be able to catch a live show here for just a few dollars' cover, or you could walk a couple blocks to 700 club, a neighborhood bar turned staple of Philadelphia nightlife.
1
Mural Tours
Location:
view in google mapsVisitor Center, 1700 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone:
215-685-07542
Famous 4th Street Delicatessen
Location:
view in google maps700 S 4th St
At Bainbridge St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone:
1 215 922 3274 / 1 215 922 35353
Independence National Historical Park
Location:
view in google maps145 S 3rd St
One North Independence Mall West
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone:
215 965 23054
Silk City
Location:
view in google maps435 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone:
215 592 88385
700 Club
Location:
view in google maps700 North 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123-3008
Phone:
215 413 3181Day 3 - Philadelphia
Spend your last morning wandering around the Reading Terminal Market, where you can buy lunch (and groceries), sample some Amish pastries, and even buy a small souvenir or two for your friends. Be sure to get some snacks for the road, as your afternoon will involve a lot of walking. Make your way over to the Mutter Museum, Philadelphia's home of medical oddities (where the low cost of admission is well worth the visit), and then continue walking west towards Fairmount Park. If the Philadelphia Museum of Art (at the end of Ben Franklin Parkway) isn't in your budget, try strolling along Kelly Drive, a popular path for walkers, joggers, picnickers, and others out to enjoy the day. You can stroll along Boathouse Row and, if the timing is right, watch rowers go by on the Schuylkill River.
1
Reading Terminal Market
Location:
view in google maps12th & Arch Sts
12th and Arch sts
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone:
1 215 922 23172
Mütter Museum
Location:
view in google mapsThe College of Physicians of Philadelphia
19 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone:
215 563 3737 ext. 2423
Boathouse Row
Location:
view in google mapsKelly Drive
East Fairmount Park
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone:
215 769 9693